When you have been seriously injured in a motorcycle accident, the road to recovery can be long, painful, and emotionally draining. During this difficult time, pursuing a legal claim can provide much-needed relief and a sense of justice. However, many motorcycle accident victims are unsure of what types of compensation they may be entitled to seek.
In a successful motorcycle accident claim, you may be able to recover a wide range of damages, both economic and non-economic. A Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you calculate the value of your award and fight for the full, fair compensation you need to rebuild your life.
Economic versus Non-Economic Damages
Your motorcycle accident settlement will include two types of compensatory damages: economic and non-economic. Economic damages refer to the financial losses that you sustained due to your collision. These may include:
- Past and future medical expenses, such as hospital bills and rehabilitation
- Lost wages during your medical treatment and recovery
- Reduced earning capacity, if your injuries prevent you from working
- Repairs and replacements for any property damaged in the crash
Non-economic damages address the impact of the accident on your health, well-being, and quality of life. These include physical pain and suffering, emotional distress, loss of enjoyment of life, and mental health conditions like anxiety, depression, and post-traumatic stress disorder.
Eligibility for Punitive Damages in Kansas City
Punitive damages differ from compensatory damages as they aim to punish the at-fault party rather than compensate you for certain losses. This type of compensation may be awarded when a driver demonstrates extreme negligence such as drunk driving, excessive speeding, or deliberately dangerous maneuvers that put riders at risk.
In Missouri, you may pursue punitive damages if you can prove by clear and convincing evidence that the defendant intentionally caused harm without just cause or acted with deliberate disregard for others’ safety. In Kansas, you must provide proof of willful conduct, wanton conduct, fraud, or malice to recover this compensation.
How to Calculate Your Claim’s Value
You need to know what your motorcycle accident claim is truly worth before accepting any settlement. Otherwise, you risk leaving money on the table. A Kansas City motorcycle accident lawyer can help you identify all potential avenues to compensation so that you can recover the full value of your damages.
Your attorney will meticulously document evidence like medical bills, repair invoices, and employment records to assess the value of your economic damages. They will also work with medical experts to project future treatment needs and calculate the long-term financial impact of your injuries.
Beyond the financial calculations, your personal injury lawyer in Kansas City will help quantify your non-economic damages. They understand how insurance companies value these claims and can estimate the appropriate compensation for your pain and suffering. Your attorney will also assess your eligibility for punitive damages and aggressively pursue the maximum recovery allowed under Kansas or Missouri law.
Contact Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe Today
After a motorcycle accident, you deserve a settlement that addresses the full scope of damages that you have endured. Dollar, Burns, Becker, and Hershewe has helped countless motorcycle accident victims secure comprehensive compensation that accounts for both current and future needs. We can help you calculate all potential damages—from obvious medical bills to diminished earnings capacity—so you can rebuild and recover following the collision. Contact us today at (816) 876-2600 for a free consultation and learn what your claim is truly worth.